ADVISORS CONFERENCE March 23, 2014 Dr. Nosson Westreich , M.Ed.,M.D ., FRCP(C) Toronto

1. ADVISORS CONFERENCE March 23, 2014 Dr. Nosson Westreich, M.Ed.,M.D., FRCP(C) Toronto

2. “One of the very advantages of youth – you don’t own any stock in anything. You have a good time, and all the grief and trouble is with the other fellows.” (Mark Twain)

3. “MITOCH SHALO L’SHMA” “Understanding Adolescent Kiruv from a Psychological Perspective” Nosson Westreich M.Ed. M.D. FRCPC Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre University of Toronto

4. 1. WHY DO ADOLESCENTS ATTEND N.C.SY? 2. WHY DO SOME OF THEM BECOME FRUM AND OTHERS NOT? 3. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND DOWNSIDES OF THE N.C.SY EXPERIENCE? 4. HOW CAN A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE HELP DIRECTORS IN THEIR WORK OF KIRUV?

5. Pre-Test 1. Normal adolescent development is tumultuous True or False 2. Normal adolescence is a time of increased emotionality True or False 3. Puberty is a negative experience for adolescents True or False 4. Adolescent thoughts are child-like True or False 5. 20% of adolescents have mental health problems True or False

6. “Debunking the Myths of Adolescence”,Dr. Dan Offer, “Journal of Adolescent Psychiatry” 1992 • False • False • False • False • True

7. Other interesting findings that support the notion that most adolescents are doing well(Douvan et al) 1. Most adolescents have positive feelings towards their parents. 2. Adjusted teenagers seek help from their parents.

8. Unger et al (2004) Amongst High Risk Teens: Most youth look to adults in their lives for support and control.

9. Biological Paradigm “Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty. Importantly, puberty itself is not limited to the development of secondary sexual characteristics. In addition, neurodevelopment research suggests that, during puberty, the brain undergoes a number of important changes. These changes are most likely necessary for the emerging adolescent to move away from what Jean Piaget characterized as a relatively rule-bound and concrete understanding of the world toward an increasing capacity for abstract.” (K&S)

10. Psychological Paradigm “Adolescence has typically been viewed as a period of separation and individuation coupled with an increasing desire to form a coherent and consistent sense of self. These tasks, roughly characterized as identity formation by theorists such as Erik Erikson, Anna Freud, and Peter Blos, are central to the experience of the adolescent as he or she continues along the developmental trajectory. According to Erikson’s epigenetic model, adolescence is determined by the quest for identity formation at the risk of role diffusion. The onset of important advances such as the development of sexual and romantic attraction, the formation of political and ethical opinion, and the willingness to differ in opinion from both peers and adult caregivers are all key elements of these psychological changes.” (K&S)

11. Social Paradigm “Gil Noam and others have proposed that, during early adolescence, group identify and cohesion play a much more important role than individual identity formation. Noting that belonging to a group and confirming to the norms of that group are important aspects of the early adolescent years, these scholars theorize that adolescents first experiment with separation and individuation by embracing the rules and regulations of their peer group.” (K&S)

12. Social Paradigm “Social norms and pressures contribute to adolescent development in many ways. Ideals of beauty, power, success, masculinity, and femininity are, to a large extent, socially determined. In modern industrial Western society, the adolescent’s individual identity and group identity are significantly influenced by mobility and the increasing role of media as a means of information, entertainment, and communication. (K&S)

13. Cultural Paradigm “Finally, as for all developmental stages, adolescence exists within a specific cultural milieu. Although virtually every culture embraces rituals intended to recognize both the onset of adolescence and the transition to adulthood, the conceptualization of what characterizes adolescence itself certainly varies in terms of cultural norms.” (K&S)

14. 3 Stages of Adolescence Early Adolescence: 11 – 14 (pubertal and cognitive changes) Middle Adolescence: 15 – 17 (increased independence and experimentation) Late Adolescence: 18 – 21 (important personal and vocational decisions)

15. If most adolescents are “adjusted”, then why do we have the false impression that most “kids are messed up”?

16. 3 primary tasks of adolescents: • Self-identity development. • Graduated autonomy. • Social acceptance and identification.

17. These 3 tasks put “normal” adolescents at “risk” for the development of harmful behaviour. • “Learning” adolescence is a “trial and error” ordeal.

18. The 10 “plagues” of normal adolescence 1. Living in the moment 2. Omnipotence 3. Regression 4. Impulsivity 5. Childish and surprisingly mature behaviour 6. Peer pressure 7. “Overactive hormones” 8. Testing limits 9. Egocentric 10. Pimples

19. Youth Risk BehaviourSurvey 2003 • 27.5% high school students smoke cigarette • 44.9% had consumed at least 1 alcoholic beverage within the previous month • 28.3% binged with 5 or more alcoholic beverages within the previous month • 22.5% had used marijuana within the previous 30 days. • 46.7% reported ever having sex • 14.4% reported having 4 or more lifetime sex partners • 34.3% were currently sexually active • 63% used a condom when they last had sex

20. “Risky behaviour” does not equal maladjustment. Rather Adolescent = navigating the critical task of self-identify, graduated autonomy and social acceptance/identification

21. “The trajectory of adult life is often determined in adolescence.”

22. “Youth is wasted on the young.” (Mark Twain)

23. N.C.SY EXPERIENCE STRUGGLE TO DEVELOP EGO IDENTITY QUESTION: WHAT IS THE ADOLESCENT GOING THROUGH? WHAT IMPACT DOES THE KIRUV EXPERIENCE HAVE ON EGO IDENTITY? WHAT IS HEALTHY? WHAT IS PATHOLOGY?

24. N.C.SY EXPERIENCE PRE-OCCUPATION WITH APPEARANCE, HERO WORSHIP IDEOLOGY WHAT IS THE ADOLESCENT GOING THROUGH? WHAT IMPACAT DOES THE KIRUV EXPERIENCE HAVE ON APPEARANCE, HERO WORSHIP IDEOLOGY? WHAT IS HEALTHY? WHAT IS PATHOLOGY?

25. N.C.SY EXPERIENCE GROUP IDENTITY (WITH PEERS) DEVELOPS WHAT IS THE ADOLESCENT GOING THROUGH? WHAT IMPACT DOES THE KIRUV EXPERIENCE HAVE ON “GROUP IDENTITY” ? WHAT IS HEALTHY? WHAT IS PATHOLOGY?

26. DEVELOPMENT OF MORALITY AND ETHICS WHAT IS THE ADOLESCENT GOING THROUGH? WHAT IMPACT DOES THE KIRUV EXPERIENCE HAVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORALITY AND ETHICS? WHAT IS HEALTHY? 4. WHAT IS PATHOLOGY?

27. ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY • MOOD DISORDERS • ANXIETY DISORDERS • PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS • EATING DISORDERS • LEARNING DISORDERS • BEHAVIOR DISORDERS • SUBSTANCE ABUSE • PERSONALITY DISORDERS